Florida governor signs new gun law that raises minimum age to purchase firearms

NRA counteracts the ‘Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act’ with a lawsuit

PARKLAND, Florida — Three weeks after chilling 911 calls detailed the horrors of one of the deadliest school shootings in American history, Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping bill to tighten gun laws in his state. The so-called "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act" raises the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21. It also extends a 3-day waiting period for handgun purchases to include long guns and bans bump stocks, which allow guns to mimic automatic fire. The bill also invests more than $400 million in school safety and mental health.

On Saturday, the National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit to prevent the law from taking effect, claiming the ban violates fundamental rights and, thus, is invalid under the second and 14th amendments.